Prior to starting out on any extensive photo safari I conduct massive research and end up with a “to do” list of images I’d like to capture. On a particular trip to Glacier National Park, one such “to do” image was that of an interior forest scene, sort of a Lord Of The Rings primeval forest look. Having visited Glacier frequently I knew of locations that might suit this objective quite well. But one day as I was driving along Going-To-The-Sun Road I noticed a small turnout that I had never bothered to stop at before. It was nondescript in so far as it was not located by any specific attraction, or scenic overlook, or anything of note. Probably why in the past I had never bothered to stop. But with the primeval forest image on my mind, I thought the forest looked promising and I decided to have a look.

Walking through the forest it wasn’t long before I came across an unexpected site. A mammoth tree stump hollowed out by decay, with a bouquet of relatively still fresh flowers placed inside. These were not native flowers. These flowers should not be in this stump, in this forest. I have seen similar scenes throughout the National Parks. Although not specifically this exact circumstance, I was pretty sure I knew what had gone on here and why the flowers. Someone had gotten married. And by the look of it, I just missed the event. Good thing too, as I neglected to bring a gift.

All I can say is “thank you” to whomever was there getting married, because it was now an easy decision as to where I was going to take the primeval forest image. I mean come on, a dark foreboding forest accented by roses and other flowers! Not something you see every day.

So I set up and began taking the myriad of separate photos required to produce a VAST Ultra High-Resolution Image. After about two hours I was finished. I then began to walk around the scene making sure no other inspirations hit me before heading out. I felt really good about what I had captured and the possibility of a successful image.

But wait just a second, the possibility of a successful image was about to get insanely better.

Almost from the moment I set up my tripod two hours earlier it had started raining. It was a light rain and not much was penetrating the dense canopy of the forest. Consequently, the rain didn’t pose an issue with the photography. In fact, the gloom made the scene even more primeval looking. But as I walked around one last time, I noticed something. Apparently, the sky was beginning to clear because quite suddenly these incredible light beams began piercing the forest canopy. It was an amazing experience. I watched, stunned with what was taking place around me. As I stood there, I noticed one beam close to the base of the stump. I could literally watch as the earth rotated and the beam slowly moved along the forest floor and up the side of the old stump. It appeared that it was only a matter of time that the beam would be illuminating the flowers.

I excitedly went back to work. Another two hours passed, and in the end I had captured the necessary photos to create the VAST Ultra High-Resolution Image “Forest Bouquet.” The incredible detail reveals some of the rain droplets on the flowers.

If you ask me, I think every primeval forest should have its own bouquet of flowers.

Side Note: If anyone ever views this image and is familiar with those involved in placing the flowers, I’d love to hear from you.

Title Origin: This title was obvious. There really was no other choice.

Thanks ... and thanks again,

David David

Life Is An Adventure!